Google Earth: Rome looks amazing

 

Google has just pushed out more 3D buildings for Rome, Italy, and the result is a stunningly realistic 3D city. For a great example, here is St. Peter’s Basilica and Piazza in Vatican City:

 

st-peter.jpg 

You can also view historical landmarks such as the Colosseum, which is another amazingly detailed 3D model:

 

colosseum.jpg 

To see the buildings for yourself, simply search for “Rome, Italy” in Google Earth and make sure that you have the 3D Buildings layer turned on. You can also use this KML tour that Google has created to show off some of the best landmarks.

 

Schultz on Impact

 

“If you want to achieve widespread impact and lasting value, be bold.”

–Howard Schultz (1953 – )

American entrepreneur, chairman of Starbucks

Starbucks opened its first store in Seattle, WA in 1971. Schultz joined the company 11 years later as its director of retail operations and marketing.

It was a trip to Italy in 1983 that inspired the coffeehouse culture that Starbucks now has. Schultz convinced the founders to try the concept in 1984 and it did well.

In 1985, he founded his own company, Il Giornale, and used Starbucks coffee beans for his espresso beverages. Two years later he purchased the assets of Starbucks and changed the name of Il Giornale to Starbucks Corporation.

Today the company does more than $10 billion dollars in sales and has more than 15,000 stores around the world.

“Look around, leaves are brown

And the sky is a hazy shade of winter.”

– Paul Simon

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New cities in Building Maker

Building Maker development continues at a torrid pace. Congratulations to the people of Rome, Italy; New Orleans, Louisiana; Long Beach, California and Malibu, also in California. Your metropolises (and/or pricey beach communities) are now proud members of the getting-less-exclusive-all-the-time cadre of cities in Building Maker. One hundred and fourteen—and counting!